Refrigerating apparatus



April 18, 1933. MALLORY 1,903,826

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR US April 1 1933- E. B. MALLORY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 14, 19:50 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Il s ATTORN EYS April 18, 1933- E. B. MALLORY 1,903,826

' REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 14, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR A #0 ATTORN EYS April 18, 1933- E. B. MALLORY 7 1,903,826

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 14, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 M BY I m {ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 18, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD B. MALLORY, OF TENAILY, NEW JERSEY, v-ASSIGNOR TO THE CLIMAX ENGINEERING COMPANY, 01 CLINTON, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Applieation'filed February 14, 1930. Serial No. 428,325.

1 This invention relates to improvements in refrigerating apparatus and is herein illustrated as embodied in refrigerating apparatus of the sealed unit type, employing a compressor, condenser, and evaporator. The invention has particularly to do with the matter of cooling the dome casing and the various parts of the mechanism contained therein, and also the cooling of the condenser and the compressed refrigerant contained within the condenser.

The invention relates to certain new and useful arrangements of the various parts of the apparatus including the dome caslng and its contained mechanism, together with the condenser 'and also the structure of these associated parts whereby an apparatus is provided having high efficiency, with provision for cooling the apparatus by natural currents of air set up as convection currents created by the heat given up by the parts to be cooled to the air in contact or associated relation therewith.

The embodiment of the invention herein illustrated possesses the further advantage of being a compact-unit of relatively slmple construction and one which may be readily and cheaply manufactured, and further possesses the advantages whereby the yarious parts may be easily made and readily and quickly assembled by a simple and inexpensive operation.

A further characteristic of the disclosed embodiment is its pleasing artistlc appearance which enables its installation, when 1t is desired, in open or in plain vlew, w th a pleasing ornamental effect as d1st1ngu1shed from the unsightly and undesirable appearance of most machinery of this klnd.

An important feature of the inventlon as here disclosed will appear from the following detail description to be that of provldlng for the passage of air, by means of natural convection currents over the various parts to be cooled whereby suflicient cooling a1r 1s brought into circulation and passed 1n contact therewith to remove and carry therefrom that amount of heat to be dissipated, requisite for the production of good and highly eflicient performance in operation.

Attempts have been made heretofore to cool devices of this character by associating the condenser in surrounding relation to the dome and spaced therefrom, with the pro- Vision for a set of fins supported on and in contact With the dome serving as the support for the condenser coil.

The applicant after various tests, has found that better results can be obtained if separate and independent cooling fins are provided for the dome and the condenser respectively with no, or as little as possible, metal connection between these heated parts. This type of construction substantially eliminates the conveyance of heat from the dome to the condenser coils by conduction travel, and permits each to be cooled independently of the other by the convection currents of the air. Apparatus of this construction constitutes the subject matter of the applicants co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 3%,015,

filed June 27th, 1929. In the old type of.

device where the coil surrounded the dome with common supporting fins, some of the heat of the dome was conveyed by conduction to the condenser coils which thereby placed the additional bur-den on the condenser of disposing of a-portion at least of the heat of the dome, as, Well as its own heat. Ofcourse an eflicient operation requires that the condenser coils be capable of dissipating sufiicient heat to cause the proper condensing effect of therefrigerating medium.

This invention represents a distinct departure from the type of unit in which a con denser coil surrounds the dome, my improved construction embodying an arrangement of parts which not only improves the operating characteristics of the refrigerating unit but readily adapts the unit to a design of pleasing appearance. The condenser is disposed below the lower confines of the dome whereby to actually remove these parts from any substantial heat transferring relationship. It is found that there is substantially no heat transfer from the bottom ofthe casing by radiation, and by locating the condenser below the casing, it is out of the path of the heat rising from the dome and accordingly, is not required to dissipate any of the dome heat. Further, the dome and condenser are provided with independent and separate sets of cooling fins, which are removed from each other. 6 By the arrangement of the present invention cooling fins of larger areas may be employed, with greater space to accommodate such fins and with a greater capacity for cooling air in contact with the dome and condenser, and their respective fins A further advantage of the present invention is that separate and independent bodies of cooling air are supplied to the dome and condenser respectively whereby each is cooled independently of the other to the extent of the full cooling capacity of the air.

Air currents established by convection are of relatively low velocity as compared with currents created by fans or similar means consequently a distinct problem is presented in cooling by convection currents. The cooling to a large extent, is directly proportional to the radiating surface but unless the apparatus is made of large awkward form, difficulty has been encountered in providing the large fin area without making the air passages so small as to greatly retard the circulation. By placing the condenser with its fins below the casing, adequate space is provided dome with adequate space for circulating air.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus of the general type described and claimed in applicants'copending application Serial No. 428,324 filed February 14, 1930, but differs therefrom in that separate and independent air currents are provided for cooling the casing and the condenser respectively, all of which action may be accomplished by means of the constructions hereinafter more fully described.

Various other advantages not specifically mentioned are contemplated for the present invention, as will readily appear to one skilled in the art from the following detail description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is merely given by way of example and is not to be considered as limiting the invention in an respect.

The scope o the invention may be determined from an understanding of the present disclosure and an appreciation of the principles incorporated therein and the advantages rovided thereby.

Re erring now to the drawings, it will be noted that:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a refrig- 60 crating mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view in cross section disclosing the internal construction of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view partly in cross secfor the fins of both the condenser and the tion, taken on the line 33 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the'arrows;

Figure 4: is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 2, of a modified form of the invention,

Figure 5 is a plan view partly in cross sec tion taken on the line 55 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 2 of a further modified form of the invention, and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Fi ure 5 taken on the line 77 of Figure 6, an looking in the direction of the arrows.

Throughout the various drawings, the internal construction of the machine is substantially similar. Therefore, corresponding or similar parts will be identified by the same reference characters.

By referring to the drawings, particularly Figures 2, 4 and 6, it will be observed that the present invention is disclosed as embodied in a refrigerating apparatus comprising a casing 10 which may be of any suitable construction and which is sealed and serves as a housing for the motor 11 and compressor 12. The casing 10 in the present disclosure constitutes a receptacle in the high side of the system for receiving the compressed re-l frigerating medium. This casing is entirely sealed from the atmosphere and as it constitutes the housing for the motor and compressor all possibilities of leaks are eliminated and the entire system is one which is completely sealed.

Various forms of easing d'onstructions are herein disclosed but with particular reference to Figure 2, it will be noted that the casing 10 is of general dome construction preferably of metal having an annular groove 13 at its lower edge. Immediately above the groove 13 is a depression 14 which is adapted to receive the base plate 15, constituting the closing wall or bottom for the casing as well as the supporting base for the enclosed motor and compressor. The base plate is held by means of the ring 13 which fits within the groove 13 with the joint soldered, welded or otherwise sealed. The sealing means for the compression casing is described and claimed in the copending application of Robert L. Alexander and James R. McCallum, Serial No. 431,524 filed February 26, 1930.

Throughout the intermediate portion of the base plate 15 the machined surface 16 is provided of such construction that it serves as the lower wall portion of the compressor or pump cylinder. The cylindrical member 17 which also constitutes a portion of the cylinder is mounted on the base plate by means of the bolts 18 and on top of which the combined bearing and cylinder plate 19 is mounted. This latter plate is also held by the bolts 18. The bearing 20 is provided preferably of relatively large size and of suitable conper plate 19, of the pump. This bracket can be formed of a plurality of independent parts attached to the plate 19, or as an annular support formed independently and secured to the plate or as an integral casting on theplate.

The above description is given for the purpose of illustrating the compact and simple internal motor and pump mechanism, whiph may be employed in the present apparatus. Further reference to the motor and compressor construction and arrangement will be omitted in this application, as these features constitute the subject matter of the co-pending application of Robert L. Alexander and James R. McCallum, Serial No. 476,736 filed August 21, 1930, and are only referred to here for the purpose of disclosing a complete assembly.

The discharge of the compressor is througlf the opening 27, which is closed by a leaf valve 28, directly into the atmosphere inside of the casing 10. The outlet for the compressed gases is through the pipe 29-, the end of which terminates at the upper portion of the casing and which extends downwardly as illustrated in Figures 2, 4 and 6 and terminates in a coil 30 constituting the condenser for the apparatus.

By referring to the figures in the drawings, it will be noted that the casing-is adapted to be mounted above the supporting surface for the apparatus by means of any suitable supports such as legs 31 in Figures 4 and 6, or annular 42 in Figure 2, so that there is adequate space below the base plate of the casing in which to mount the condenser.

The supporting surface referred to may be the top of a refrigerating cabinet 70, if it is desirable to mount the apparatus in this manner.

The present invention is not limited to the specific details of construction of the condenser; that is to say, whether the condenser be entirely outside the confines of the casing or not, provided however, that the condenser is disposed so as to occupy space below the bottom of the casing, whereby it is removed from lateral heat transferring relationship with the casing.

On this point, it may be pointed. out that the heat transfer from the bottom of the casing, by radiation, is relatively small and that heat conveyed by convection currents,

passes upwardly from the dome and does not come near the condenser. The condenser in the present disclosure is shown as composed of two concentrically arranged coils of pipes but obviously any arrangement of piping may be embodied if desired. However, it may be pointed out that the form of condenser and condenser assembly disclosed in this application, have been found to be highly desirable and to present many advantages from the commercial standpoint, as it may be easily manufactured and assembled as a separate unit and independently of the other apparatus, and be subsequently mounted in the other apparatus by a simple and cheap operation.

By reference to the righthand portion of Figures 3, 5 and 7 it will be observed that the two coils of pipe 32 and 33 respectively have a corrugated metal separator 34 placed therebetween. This separator is made up from metal which is relatively flexible so that it may be easily shaped to be inserted between the pipes inwhich position its natural resilience tends to hold it in place and also assists in maintaining the coils in proper position. While in this position, the separator is also maintained in intimate contact with the coils whereby it may receive heat from the coils by conduction and serve as heat radiating fins therefor.

, Additional radiating fins may be added inside and outside of the coils, which are in Figure'7 for instance, shown as a single bent deflector plate. 37 is provided, which has its inner. end 38 secured in any suitable manner. Although the deflector plate may be mounted by welding or similar means, it is shown as mounted in Figure 2 by means of the clamping ring 43 which-is held in place by means of the bolts 44 which are screw-threaded directly into the base 15. This plate 37 extends all around the machine and is therefore of annular formation and serves in the very important function hereinafter more fully described of deflecting the cooling air rising upwardly from the condenser, out

These fins are added for the purpose 7 wardly'and away from the dome casing. In

the modification shown in Figures 1 and 2 the outer portion 39 of the deflector plate 37 is bent downwardly and is provided with a pinportion 39 is welded or otherwise attached as at 41 to the upstanding annular flange 42 constituting a closure for the condenser coils and the support for themachine. This portion 42 may be an independent annular support surrounding the base of the machine or it may be formed as an inte ral portion on the top of a refrigerator ca inet in which case it will serve as the mounting for the entire machine and make for a pleasing finished appearance.

The invention, however, is not limited to these details of construction. In any event, in the form shown in Fi ures 1 to 3 inclusive, the condenser assem 1y which may be previously made up as described above is mounted Within the annular portion 42 and secured thereto by means of welding or otherwise securing the fins 36 to the inner surface thereof.

In the modification shown in Figure 4, the condenser may omit the outermost set of cooling fins 36 and have the outer condenser coils secured directly to the outer shroud or skirt portion 42 which corresponds to annular base member 42 in Figure 2, through which means the condenser is held in place. In this form, the legs 31 are secured to the bottom of the shroud 42 for supporting the entire machine.

In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7, the legs 31 support the casing and the condenser coils and the coils are affixed directly to these legs by welding, clamping or other suitable means. This is clearly shown in the righthand portion of Figure 7.

When the condenser coil is in position the pipe 29 extending therefrom may be projected through suitable openings provided through the deflector plate 37 and dome 10 and sealed in the manner desired.

Above the deflector plate 37 and surrounding the upper surface-of the dome casing 10 are a plurality of fin members 45 which are preferably of channel shape having their inner edges welded to the dome casing, but may however, be bent up from a continuous strip as shown in Figures 5 and 7. These members are slightly spaced apart as shown in Figures 1 and 3 so that air may pass between them and are furthermore provided with openings 46 at their lower ends whereby air may pass into the interior of the channels or chimneys in direct contact with the walls of the dome casing and the inner surface of the channel members. These members of course, constitute metal radiating surfaces to assist in cooling the dome 'and by virtue of their construction permit the passage of air both inside and outside and in contact with the dome casing. This current of air is created by virtue of the convection current efl'ect produced by the heat of the dome and as augmented by the action of the chimneys which assist in producing the upward current of air.

A large portion of the heat is conveyed from the dome into the metal channels by conduction and from which the heat is dissipated by the convection currents of the air. It will of course be understood that the tops of the channels are open so that by the chimney effect produced, the air is free to pass in through the openings 46 and out of the top of the channels. In addition, air is drawn inwardly and upwardly into the space between adjacent channels to assist in cooling these faces of the cooling fins as well as the dome casing.

Likewise in the form shown in Figure 2 around the lower portion of the apparatus and in the annular member 42 openings 47 are provided to permit the free passage of air into the space below the casing and around it in contact with the condenser and its radiating fins.

Referring now particularly to Figure 4, it will be observed that substantially the same construction is disclosed with the exception of construction details which influence primarily the manufacturing and assembling costs and operations. In this form, the condenser is, secured within the extension 42 which projects downwardly from the deflector plate 37 and furthermore the deflector plate is formed as a continuous portion of the dome casing 10. In other words, in this construction these parts may all be formed from a single piece of metal.

A further modification resides in mounting the entire machine by means of the legs 31 maintaining the casing slightly spaced above the supporting surface whereby to permit air to readily pass underneath the machine on its way up through the condenser.

In all of the forms here disclosed, the air which passes underneath for the cooling of the condenser also serves to maintain a circulation underneath the machine which assists in removing heat from the bottom of the casing.

In the form shown in Figure 4, the compressor and motor are mounted on the upper plate 19 of the pump which is extended outwardly and secured to the dome casing in the same manner as the lower plate 15 in the other figures. This construction of course, requires that the compressor be suspended below the supporting plate with the bottom closure 51 suitably secured and sealed to the dome casing as shown. In this construction, an opening 52 is provided through the supporting plate 19 whereby to expose the upper and bottom portions of the casing to the dome pressure.

its passage upwardly it is forced so far outsay, the condenser is cooled by air passing is cooled by means of air passing through the openings 46 and up through the chimneys and also by means ,of air being drawn inwardly and upwardly between the channel shaped cooling fins. It may be observed from Figures 3 and 5, that the cooling fins around the domemay be a series of independent channel members or a continuous corrugated strip having its inner face in direct contact with the dome. The construction shown in Figure 6 is quite similar tothose previously described especially the form in Figures 1 to 3.inclusive with the exception that the base plate 15 is mounted on legs 31 and the deflector plate 37 is secured by welding or other suitable means to the outside of the dome casing 10. However, the upwardly passing air from the condenser has an unobstructed annular space through which it may escape until it is subjected to the action of the deflector plate 37 which causes it to travel outwardly away from the dome.

In all of the aboveforms it has been'found in practice, that the air which serves to cool the condenser is deflected outwardly in a manner which prevents it from coming in contact with the dome. In other words, in

wardly by means of the deflector plate that it leaves adequate space for fresh cooling air to find its way into the openings 46 and into the space around the dome for cooling the fins and dome.

It will thus appear that a construction is here provided in which the condenser and the dome are maintained in such relative association that there is substantially no conveyance of heat from one of these parts to the other and furthermore, that each is provided with its own cooling fins of unusually large area, each having an abundance of free air surrounding the same in cooling relationship and finally the dome and the condenser with their respective cooling fins are each cooled by independent bodies of fresh air.

In addition to the above advantages, the

present invention provides a construction which is of compact, simple arrangement and one which produces a pleasing desirable appearance such that it, might be mounted" in plain view in instances where such mounting is desired.

The efficiency of an air cooled refrigerating machine is materially reduced by the collection of dirt and dust on the cooling surfaces as it forms a partial heat insulationto the action of the cooling currents. By

providing radiating surfaces in the forms of fins, as herein illustrated, which are free from-the coils of the condenser, greater access is provided for cleaning purposes and it will therefore be apparent that the cooling surfaces may be readily cleaned and the initial high efficiency of the machine easily maintained. a

It will of course be understood that the machine of this invention may be mounted in any desired location, that is, entirely independently of the cabinet to be refrigerated or associated therewith, mounted on the top of the cabinet or in any conveniently located compartment provided therefor.

I claim:

. .1. A refrigerating unit ofthe character described having in combination a casing, a compressor in said casing, and means supporting said casin in spaced relation above a supporting sur ace, a condenser coil occupying space below said casing and being constructed and arranged to be cooled by convection air currents, and an air deflector abovesaid condenser constructed and arranged to deflect air rising from said con denser outwardly away from said casing.

2. A refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a motor and compressor in a sealed casing, having cooling fins on said casing, constructed. and arranged to be cooled by convection air currents and a condenser disposed below said casing and an air deflector disposed between said fins and condenser. I

3. A refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a motor and compressor in a sealed casing, having a condenserconnected to said sealed casin and located below said casing, means esta lishing convection air currents for cooling said casing and means establishing separate and independent air currents for cooling said condenser. v A a 4. A refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a motor and compressor in a sealed casing having means supporting said casing with a space therebeneath, a condenser mounted below said casing and having a shroud enclosing the outer surface thereof and a deflector above said condenser for deflecting air rising from said condenser away from said casing. 1

5. A refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a motor and compressor in a sealed casing having means supporting said casing with a space therebeneath, a condenser mounted below said casing and having a shroud enclosing the outer surface thereof and a deflector above said condenser for deflecting air rising from said ing and having a shroud enclosing the outer surface thereof and a deflector above said condenser for deflecting air rising from said condenser away from said casing, said means comprising a'shroud enclosing said space, and a condenser mounted within said shroud and supported thereby.

7. A refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a motor and compressor in a sealed casing having means for supporting said casing comprising an outwardly and upwardly inclined deflector member extending from the bottom of said casing and a downwardly extending shroud, having openings at top and bottom thereof for the passage of air therethrough, and a condenser mounted within said shroud in position to be cooled by air currents passing into and out of said openings.

8. A refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a motor and compressor in a sealed casing, having means on said casing for assisting the formation of convection air currents and increasing the radiating area of said casing and an air cooled condenser mounted below said casing and within the confines of said means on said casing, and a deflector plate between said means and condenser.

9. A refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a motor and a compressor in a sealed casing havingmeans \on said casing for assisting the formation of convection air currents for cooling said casing and increasing the heat radiating area thereof, and a condenser mounted below said casing constructed and arranged to be cooled by convection air currents and deflector means mounted above said condenser and beneath said means on said casing for directing air rising from said condenser outwardly away from said means on said casing.

10. A refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a motor and a compressor in a sealed casing having means for supporting said casing comprising a deflector member extending outwardly and upwardly from the bottom of said casing, and a downwardly extending shroud, said shroud being constructed to permit air to pass into the bottom and out of the top thereof, and a condenser mounted Within said shroud in position to be cooled by air currents passing therethrough.

11. A refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a motor and compressor in a sealed casing having a shroud extending outwardly and downwardly from the bottom of said casing serving as a support therefor, a condenser mounted within said shroud constructed and arranged for air cooling, said shroud being constructed to permit air to enter the bottom thereof, pass in contact with the surfaces of said condenser and outwardly from the top thereof and to cause the discharged air to be deflected outwardly away from said casing.

12. A refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a motor and compressor in a sealed casing having means on said casing assisting the formation of convection air currents and increasing the radiating surface of said casing, said means comprising a plurality of U shape members with their bases disposed outwardly whereby to form a plurality of chimneys, said chimneys being closed at their bottoms and provided with laterally extending openings near their bottom ends.

13. A refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a motor and compressor in a sealed casing having a plurality .of cooling fins on said casing formed as a series of U shape members with their bases outwardly, arranged in spaced relation whereby to form a plurality of spaced chimneys, a plate surrounding the base of said casing serving to close the bottoms of said chimneys and'intervening spaces, said chimneys having lateral outside openings near the bottom ends thereof.

14. A refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a motor and compressor in a sealed casing having a plurality of cooling fins on said casing formed as a series of U shape members with their bases outwardly, arranged in spaced relation whereby to form a plurality of spaced chimneys, a plate surrounding the base of said casing serving to close the bottoms of said chimneys and intervening spaces, said chimneys having lateral outside openings near the bottom ends thereof and a condenser below said casing and said plate being inclined upwardly whereby to deflect air rising from said condenser away from said casing.

15. A refrigerating apparatus of the character described comprising a motor and a compressor in a sealed casing having means for supporting said casing spaced above a supporting surface and a condenser mounted below said casing, means for cooling said casing and condenser by convection currents comprising fins on said dome, and a shroud enclosing said condenser, said shroud being constructed to permitoutside air to pass over the surfaces of said condenser, and a deflector between said condenser and fins for deflecting air rising from said condenser away from said casing. 1

In testimonywhereof I aflix my si ature.

EDWARD B. MALL RY. 

